Solitary chicken - need advice

[PoachedPlease]

The foxes have just decided to try to break in to the outside run and so I have come down this morning to find the eglu netting horribly torn. Is there an easy way to repair it? And more importantly do you think it would be better to leave the gate open so they just walk in and check out the eglu, without ripping the netting first?

 

Experiences much appreciated!

X

[Patricia W]

Unless the netting is electrified, it won't be any defence against foxes. Are your chickens locked in the eglu or is it left open at night? The eglu is fox proof (as long as it's been assembled properly and is closed up) but the run is fox resistant. It helps to have the run on slabs or slabs around the skirt.

[PoachedPlease]

The eglu is shut at night so must be fox resistant, but the netting is suffering as the foxes try to get to the run. So should I just leave the gate open that might stop the foxes from tearing at it?

[Patricia W]

But is it the coop part you shut at night, or leave that open and just shut the run part? It is only the coop part that is fox proof. If you leave that open, they are vulnerable in the run, and although it's unlikely if its on slabs/weighted down, that a fox would get in, the close proximity would at the very least freak out the chickens. If I had evidence of fox activity like you have, I'd be electrifying the netting. Especially if you let them free range in the netting during the day.

[Olly]

As others have said, you need to be confident that your hens are secure during the day/at night, and the Omlet netting isn't designed for that. All other things being equal, however (they are shut in the coop at night, and in a secure run during the day) then I would say that you may as well leave the netting open at night. It clearly isn't stopping the foxes from getting into the enclosure anyway and testing your other defences, and at least if it's open they won't need to chew holes in it.

[PoachedPlease]

Ah, I always leave the chickens in the eglu run as soon as sun is up or else they are in that tiny coop all day isn't that what everyone does, or else what's the point of the eglu??

 

I know the netting isn't fox proof.

 

Having said that, this is the first time I have used an eglu, as my main hens are in a fox proof WIR. The eglu and run are for the chicks and won't fit in the WIR. Does this mean I have to leave the chicks in the tiny coop all day. I am very confused now. Plus there is no doubt fox activity has increased since I got the eglu. The chickens must be well stressed out with foxy staring at them all day?.

 

 

Xx

[Patricia W]

How many have you got? And how old are they? I find I can leave up to 3 bantams in the standard eglu run without much free ranging, but I wouldn't want 3 standard hens in there all day.

[kissinuk]

I think we're all a but confused, are you talking about opening the eglu door or the door of the run? Do you have an eglu run that is then surrounded be the omlet fence?